Miami Hurricanes Football: Winners and Losers at the Spring Game

The Hurricanes had their annual spring game on Saturday to show everyone the hard work and dedication that was put in after their spring session.

For the most part, everything that we expected to happen, happened.

Just like everything in competitive sports, there has to be some winners and losers. Here is a list of the three biggest surprises and the three weakest links.

Loser- Jacory Harris

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EL PASO, TX - DECEMBER 30: Quarterback Jacory Harris #12 of the Miami Hurricanes reacts after a pass interception against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Hyundai Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl on December 30, 2010 in El Paso, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Mart

Quarterback play was the lowest part of the spring game, again.

Jacory Harris started the interception fest with one to Brandon McGee, ending a great drive for the green team.

The ball once again hung in the air, overthrowing the wide receiver in the end zone.

Harris threw another interception to Andrew Swasey, who actually made a great pick against Tommy Streeter, who has about seven inches on Swasey. Either way, they are interceptions the senior quarterback can not afford.

Harris has been with the Hurricanes for three years now, and there is no excuse for him to be throwing multiple interceptions per game going into his senior year.

I will give Harris the benefit of the doubt in some regards, as the Hurricanes were without some of their primary receivers.

Loser- Stephen Morris

Harris wasn't the only low spot for the team on Saturday, Stephen Morris also threw two interceptions.

Freshman Thomas Finnie had one interception, while Sean Spence intercepted Morris for a pick six in the second quarter.

Morris definitely showed he has the stronger arm, but the Spence interception showed his primary problem: zoning in on one receiver and sticking with them, allowing the defense to read his eyes.

With more experience, Morris should be able to learn to read the field and become a little less predictable.

Either way, both Harris and Morris need to get on the same page, or it is going to be another long year in Miami.

Loser- Tommy Streeter

"Street", as called by his teammates, has had a very slow career after being one of the most sought after wide receivers in 2008.

Street was redshirted his true freshman year, caught four passes his freshman year and last year caught one ball.

During spring practices and scrimmages, though, Street showed signs that he was going to fight for an opening spot and be a huge part of the deep ball for the Hurricanes.

On Saturday, he showed why he hasn't been able to get on the field the last couple years.

Street has the size and skill to be a great receiver; his tentativeness is where the problem lies.

Street had opportunities to make some plays, although he did have one catch for 17 yards, but just didn't seem like he was in the game mentally.

He just needs to get that confidence, and when he does, he will have the ability to be great and to give Miami what they have been missing: a deep threat.

Loser- Injuries.

There were a number of injuries in Saturday's game that really made the game feel almost empty.

The "starters" that were held out of the game due to injury were:

Seantral Henderson- Offensive Line

LaRon Byrd- Wide Receiver

Aldarius Johnson- Wide Receiver

Asante Cleveland- Tight End

Marcus Forston- Defensive Line.

Vaughn Telemaque- Safety

Travis Benjamin joined them on the sideline after getting injured in the beginning of the game and never returned.

One of the biggest concern for the Hurricanes is at wide receiver, and not having them at full speed really hindered Miami offensive production.

Forston, on the other hand, has had surgery on his MCL and supposedly will be back by July and Telemaque suffered a kneck injury, but was held out for precautionary reasons.

Winner- Kendal Thompkins

With all the injuries to the wide receiving corp, someone needed to step up due to a very shallow depth chart, and that person was Kendal Thompkins.

Thompkins has been talked about for the last few years in Miami. After being redshirted, he played his freshman year, primarily on special teams, although he did catch six passes.

Last year, after having a good spring season, he was expected to do much more. He started four games for the Hurricanes, yet only had one reception.

Thompkins has had a solid spring and really stood out in Saturday's game, with seven catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.

He showed very good route running skills and attacked the ball better then anyone else on the field.

The confidence he got from the game may spark what everyone else saw at Miami and allow him to get more playing time his junior year.

Winner- Sean Goldstein

For those that do not know who he is, join the club.

I knew very little of Goldstein. In fact, I had to google him a few times to see exactly where he came from and found out he is a walk on and has participated on the practice squad for the Hurricanes.

He had a very good high school career, but has not had any playing time for the Hurricanes.

Until the spring game, where he led all players with 14 total tackles.

Watching him all over the field was very impressive, as it seemed like there were two of him out there at all times.

This doesn't mean that Goldstein is going to be a starter by any means, but it does show that hard work does pay off and that you just never know what can happen.

It was great to watch him play. I really hope it wasn't a fluke, and we can see the walk on get more playing time during the fall.

Winner- Olivier Vernon

When Allen Bailey graduated last year, someone needed to step up and take his spot.

The depth at defensive end is pretty solid, and Vernon made sure he showed what he could do in Saturdays game and didn't disappoint.

Vernon's career at Miami was solidified last year as a sophomore getting six sacks and four tackles for loss while starting in 11 games.

In Saturdays game, he continued to show his skills with four tackles, two tackles for loss and one and a half sacks for the Green team.

I believe Vernon will beat out Marcus Robinson this fall and become the Hurricanes left end.

Winner- Sean Spence

Sean Spence once again reminded us on how good he really is, no matter how small he is.

Ray Lewis was another football player that many scouts thought was too small to play linebacker in the NFL. Both players are about the same size, 6'0", 225 lbs.

We all know what Lewis has done in Miami and in the NFL, and I truly believe Spence will make this year a memorable one.

Spence was an absolute beast on the field Saturday, picking off Morris for a 22 yard touchdown, nine tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack.

Spence's drive and the way he attacks ball carriers is something special to watch.

He was my defensive player of the game.

Winner- Lamar Miller

If they were to give out MVP awards for spring games, there was no doubt who would have won that.

Miller showed why some believe him to be a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy.

Everyone knew Miller was going to be an absolute stud just watching him play last year as a true freshman, gathering 646 yards on 108 carries (5.99 ypc) and tied for the team lead with six touchdowns.

He was a monster during the spring session as well and capped off the spring with a 10 carry, 166 yard, three touchdown performance on Saturday.

Miller's speed, quickness and elusiveness was on the spotlight Saturday, and he did not disappoint.

His field vision is simply amazing, and if he is able to get about 20 carries per game in a loaded backfield, there is no doubt he has a great chance to pick up some votes for the Heisman.

The future is bright for Miller, and when it mattered most in the spring, he simply out shined everyone else.

Winner- 2001 Miami Hurricanes

The Spring game hasn't been this hyped in a long time.

Hurricane supporters, alumni, family,  friends and fans really showed the changes that are coming in Miami.

To showcase what really makes champions, Miami called up the best college team in history, 2001 National Champion Hurricanes, for some advice and honored them at halftime.

33 of the players were on hand and spoke to the crowd and players to show and teach them what it takes to be champions.

Current players need to take the advice of the championship team and understand that it just never got any better than what they did in 2001. The team should learn from them and become champions of their own.